10 to 1 Public Relations

**BACKGROUND** Introduce your organization and its activities. I serve as the marketing director at Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI), a nonprofit focused on economic development located in Phoenix, Arizona. Our mission is to transform Arizona into a top-tier economy. We have several initiatives underway to support this aim, including applied research projects and research centers dedicated to wearable technology and blockchain, among others. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What issue were you aiming to tackle with 10 to 1 Public Relations? We engaged 10 to 1 to assist with our various initiatives; they work collaboratively with our entire organization while also identifying PR opportunities for each specific initiative. **SOLUTION** What was the extent of their involvement? Recently, 10 to 1 played a significant role in organizing our second annual State of Innovation Summit. This event allows us to present our case to our target audience in the Legislature regarding the importance of investing public funds in innovation. It's a large-scale event that we have coordinated with many partners, and their team has been instrumental in providing strategic support. They explore every aspect of our planning and uncover PR opportunities. Deliverables from them include an op-ed published prior to the event, along with press releases. Additionally, one of our stakeholders participated in an interview, and the team crafted vital talking points for that. In summary, they offer conventional PR services and pursue earned media to back our initiatives. **TEAM COMPOSITION** Our collaboration involves a couple of primary account leads, with a total of five individuals dedicated to our account daily. We have two main contacts, including one account lead. **HOW WE CAME TO WORK WITH 10 TO 1** We had previously been working with another PR firm but decided to change vendors. A referral from a generalist marketing support team led us to 10 to 1, and they spoke very highly of their services. Consequently, we decided to proceed with them. **INVESTMENT DETAILS** We have invested about $32,000, with a recent increase in our monthly retainer by approximately 20–30%. **STATUS OF ENGAGEMENT** Our partnership with 10 to 1 began in July 2021 and continues to be active. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence indicates the success of this engagement? So far this year, we have secured around 40 media features, a significant achievement since January 2022. We also appreciate that 10 to 1 maintains a well-organized media report that we can easily access to review our media coverage. **PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE** 10 to 1 excels in project management and documentation, which are among their strongest attributes. They are adaptable and willing to utilize any tools we find useful. As a small organization, we've faced challenges in identifying the right tools, and 10 to 1 has consistently supported us in experimenting with various options. They keep us informed, and we hold monthly calls to discuss our different initiatives. They are always available for our needs. **WHAT IMPRESSED US MOST** Our messaging is complex, requiring us to communicate significant economic concepts in relatable terms. 10 to 1 effectively tailors communications to meet our expectations, and we are particularly impressed by their organizational skills and attention to detail. **AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT** 10 to 1 might consider expanding their service offerings. They primarily position themselves as a traditional firm focused on earned media; however, since they excel in that area, we would be interested in having them produce blog posts or engage more with social media—services that currently fall outside their scope. **ADVICE FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS** Establish clear goals to enable 10 to 1 to help you achieve them more efficiently. Without defined objectives, they are likely to apply their standard strategy.